How to Change Crystal Report Connection in .Net

OK, so let's try what, as I understand it, is the new way to go. It's best documented on Crystal's site here[^] and here[^], and you can also find good information in their help file "To change a persistent data source" (xi4_rassdk_net_dg_en.chm::/html/topic82.html, available here[^], if you don't have it).

The upshot is that you have to go at it a totally different route through a new library, replacing every existing connection in the report with new information. You should already have the new library, assuming you're using a full install of the Crystal components--if not, I'm pretty sure they're freely available in one of Crystal's SDKs. Add project references to CrystalDecisions.ReportAppServer.Controllers and CrystalDecisions.ReportAppServer.DataDefModel and then try something like the following:

Imports CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine
Imports CrystalDecisions.ReportAppServer

...

Dim rpt As New ReportDocument
RASReplaceCRConnection(rpt.ReportClientDocument, rpt.DataSourceConnections(0).Attributes)

...

    Private Sub RASReplaceCRConnection(ByRef rcd As ClientDoc.ISCDReportClientDocument, atts As CrystalDecisions.Shared.DbConnectionAttributes)
        Dim rpt As New CrystalDecisions.CrystalReports.Engine.ReportDocument
        'reset connection
        rcd.DatabaseController.LogonEx(yourServer, "", yourUser, yourPassword)

        'Create the QE (query engine) propertybag with the provider details and logon property bag
        Dim QE_Details As New DataDefModel.PropertyBag
        For Each nvp As CrystalDecisions.Shared.NameValuePair2 In atts.Collection 'copy from existing attributes except for server name
            Select Case nvp.Name.ToString
                Case "QE_ServerDescription"
                    QE_Details.Add(nvp.Name, yourServer)
                Case "QE_LogonProperties"  'this is itself a property bag
                    Dim logonDetails As New DataDefModel.PropertyBag
                    For Each nvp2 As CrystalDecisions.Shared.NameValuePair2 In DirectCast(nvp.Value, CrystalDecisions.Shared.DbConnectionAttributes).Collection
                        Select Case nvp2.Name.ToString
                            Case "Data Source"
                                logonDetails.Add(nvp2.Name, yourServer)
                            Case Else
                                logonDetails.Add(nvp2.Name, nvp2.Value)
                        End Select
                    Next
                    QE_Details.Add(nvp.Name, logonDetails)
                Case Else
                    QE_Details.Add(nvp.Name, nvp.Value)
            End Select
        Next

        'now replace all existing connections with new one
        Dim newConnInfo As New DataDefModel.ConnectionInfo With {.Attributes = QE_Details,
                                                                                                  .Kind = DataDefModel.CrConnectionInfoKindEnum.crConnectionInfoKindCRQE,
                                                                                                  .UserName = yourUser,
                                                                                                  .Password = yourPassword}
        For Each oldConnInfo As DataDefModel.ConnectionInfo In rcd.DatabaseController.GetConnectionInfos
            rcd.DatabaseController.ReplaceConnection(oldConnInfo, newConnInfo.Clone, Nothing, DataDefModel.CrDBOptionsEnum.crDBOptionDoNotVerifyDB)
        Next
    End Sub

Painful, but worked for me. Good luck!